Image by Amnesty International

Amnesty International have called on the Sri Lankan government to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and to issue an immediate moratorium on its use amidst increasing scrutiny over the draconian legislation. 

The rights group criticised Sri Lanka’s recent announcement to ‘reform’ the PTA, stating that the gazetted amendments “fail to address critical gaps in the law.” 

Despite ongoing human rights abuses, the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) will receive two military aircraft from the United States at no cost through a Foreign Military Sales contract, following a request made by the commander of the Sri Lankan airforce. 

The European Union announced the launch of a new initiative that will see approximately 4 billion rupees of funding for Sri Lanka’s much criticised justice sector, even as Tamil families of the disappeared slammed the state’s unwillingness to investigate the forcible disappearances of their loved ones.

The new Justice Reform (JURE) Programme consists of EUR 18 million (approx. LKR 4 billion) of funding from the EU and EUR 1 million (approx. LKR 225 million) from the United Nations.

The program will reportedly see a “holistic package of support to strengthen inclusive access to justice, improve transparency and accountability in the sector as well as enhance quality and efficient services delivery,” according to an EU press release.

But for Tamils across the North-East and around the world, the latest program will do little to achieve those goals. Yesterday in Kilinochchi, Tamil families of the disappeared marked 5 years of continuous protest with a rally through the streets, reiterating their demand for an international justice mechanism. The families, mainly headed by women, marched despite the heavy rainfall and chanted slogans calling for international accountability.

A Sri Lankan solider photographed Tamils in Jaffna this morning as more signatures were added to a petition calling on Sri Lanka to repeal the notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). 

Sri Lanka's Counter-Terrorism Investigation Department (CTID) has ordered Selvanayagam Aravindhan, to provide the personal details of all the participants who attended an event to commemorate the Tamil Genocide on May 18 last year. 

Aravindhan, a former political prisoner residing in Thonikkal, Vavuniya, has been ordered to provide the details to the authorities by tomorrow. 

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MPs organised a rally and petition in Kalmunai, Amparai as part of an island-wide campaign to repeal Sri Lanka’s draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act which has been roundly criticised by over 80 human rights and civil society organisations.

The campaign comes amidst mounting criticism of the proposed reforms to the PTA which have been criticised by human rights organisations of being grossly inadequate.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, G.L. Peiris will lead a delegation during the 49^th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council following widespread international criticism of deterioration of human rights and the country’s failure to repeal its draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act.

The session will take place from 28 February to 1 April in Geneva. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights will present a written update on Sri Lanka to the Council and there will be an Interactive Dialogue on Sri Lanka on 3 March.

^{Omar Ayub - Chairman of ECC}

Pakistan Ministry of Finance ( MoF) has advised the Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP) to seek Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) approval for establishing a Defence Credit line facility for Sri Lanka, before starting negotiations and finalising terms and conditions.

Tamil families of the disappeared marched through Kilinochchi earlier today, as they marked 5 years of continuous protest demanding answers to the whereabouts of their loved ones even whilst heavy rains hit the town.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Global Tamil Forum (GTF) released a joint statement praising Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin for “heralding a new era of pride and optimism among global Tamils” and “called for direct engagements with the Tamil Nadu government”.

The statement released this week said both the TNA and GTF hold Chief Minister Stalin in “high esteem for his inspiring leadership of the global Tamil community,” and called on the Tamil Nadu leader to give Tamils in the North-East guidance and “support”.